@aep528
I don't think she's saying that pressure to perform is the sole cause of suicide among IT people. I read it as the startup culture in IT can be a perfect storm for someone with existing mental issues. High stress, high frequency of failure (in startups) and extended periods of time in isolation (due to long hours) from friends and family who otherwise might be able to see the issue and intervene all contribute to this storm.
Also:
"If you???re unfamiliar, Asperger???s Syndrome is a developmental disorder in the autism spectrum where ???Aspies??? experience serious difficulties with basic social interactions (notably in communication, empathy, self-care and literal interpretations) and excel at things that involve rules, systems and laws."
That reads to me like IT and other scientific fields and individuals with Asperger's and similar disorders are the equivalent of a porchlight and moths. Take a look at that description again. Now think about the types of people you've encountered in highly technical positions. I can't tell you how many IT pros I've encountered that are technically gifted but significantly struggle with social skills.
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